In case you missed the back story for this invention to improve your library experience, be sure to go here.
Last night, as I tucked my oldest son into bed, he explained this invention he dreamed up. After listening to him go on and on about how important this invention would be, I thought he should create it himself. Isn’t that what all great inventors dream of?
Leonardo Da Vinci probably was tucked into bed by his mother as he dreamed of his flying machine or the helicopter aerial screw. See some of Da Vinci’s famous inventions here.
Eli Whitney may have been irritated with hard labor and literally dreamed up the cotton gin.
Someday, I hope my son actually brings you “Library Larry.” This was his idea:
Step 1 – Build a robot. Specifically, this robot needs to look somewhat human and sort of like a crash test dummy. However, you can choose his or her dress and style. You know, kind of like a new Minecraft skin. If you have kids, you’ll understand what I mean.
Step 2 – Control this robot virtually. So, you’ll need a remote control, or if you’re a kid, then all you need is wifi and an app. They can figure out all the rest.
Step 3 – Convince the librarians at your local library – that is still closed and only allowing you to order books online and pick them up in a locked and covid free zone tightly controlled vestibule – to let your robot enter the actual library and peruse the stacks of books. This step may be next to impossible as those librarians can be quite squirely about AI and robots.
Step 4 – Tell your robot what section to walk or roll to and direct him to pick out a book for you to see if you want to check it out. This is where my son gets frustrated. He wants to SEE the books. He wants to look at the cover, FEEL the books and flip through the pictures and determine if it’s interesting. Reading the back matter, and perusing the whole book is important to him to determine if it is worthy of his time.
This is what my children miss about the library. They love to just take time to wander the aisles and look at the books. Each of my four children always comes back to our table with arms full or sometimes even their library bag or a basket piled high with all their choices. They excitedly share what they have found and what interests them. Two of them even sit down right where they are – on the floor, at a table, in the aisle, or maybe a comfy chair and get lost in whatever new topic they have chosen.
We love the library! We miss the library! We miss our librarians too! Our librarians are fantastic. They give us ideas, teach us how to find certain subjects, and suggest new book series based on previous books read. They are courteous and extremely helpful.
Dear County Library System, please open up again. We miss you.
